Moses Ofodeme
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, May 4, announced the commencement of a nationwide verification exercise for centres proposed for voting units to be converted to polling units across the country,
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this when he visited some of the proposed centres as well as existing polling units in FCT and Nasarawa State.
Yakubu, said that the purpose of the verification exercise was to ensure that the right thing was done in the conversion of the voting points to polling units.
“All the National Commissioners are out, visiting the states of the Federation to verify the work of converting the voting points to polling units.
“So, we decided from the headquarters to visit some of the polling units and voting points in the FCT; and also in the Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State.
“We have done that of FCT, we are now in Karu.
“You will recall that as part of our engagement with stakeholders, we show images of one of the congested polling units in the country from Karu in Nasarawa State.
“So, I have to verify that the right thing is being done in converting those voting points to polling units; and also relocating them in line with the Commission’s guidelines.
“So far, it is a work in progress. At the end of the exercise will address the media,” he said.
The INEC Chairman said he had been informed that 395 voting points were being converted to polling units in Karu Local Government.
Yakubu said that with the conversion of voting points to polling units, there would be expanded access to polling units for voters; while congestion of polling units would be eliminated in future elections.
“What we have done, basically, is to build on what we did in 2019. Recall that we are converting the voting points used for the 2019 elections into autonomous polling units and relocating them.
“This is going to be a continuous process. One exercise will not solve the problem.
“But we hope we have established the mechanism that going forward; the commission will be adjusting the number of polling units as the number of registered voters increases,” he said.
He gave assurance that the Continuous Voters Registration exercise would commence on June 28 after the PUs conversion.
He added that voters would be given the opportunity; to choose the location they wish to be their new polling units.
He urged stakeholders as well as community leaders to support the commission; and also sensitise the people on the ongoing exercise for the conversion of polling units.
